A labour dispute at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) intensifies as lecturers accuse management of employing “dirty” tactics to punish staff following a prolonged four-month strike. While some lecturers have returned to work this semester, many remain unpaid, fueling fears that salary delays are a form of retaliation against those who participated in the industrial action.

One lecturer, speaking anonymously, said, “There appears to be silent moves to deal with those who were on strike. It is possible they are delaying putting people back on payroll so that they get frustrated and leave.”

The situation has worsened with the suspension and dismissal of the leadership of the Association of University Teachers (AUT), leaving lecturers without a unified voice. The suspended leaders have since taken their case to the Labour Court, appealing the decisions against them.

Adding to the tension, UZ administration has begun recruiting new faculty members. According to a dean involved in the hiring process, “We are seeing papers coming to department boards across the campus for new appointments.” This move has heightened lecturers’ anxieties about job security amid ongoing salary negotiations.

Lecturers currently earn a basic minimum of US$230 per month and are demanding a significant pay increase to US$2,250 to restore their salaries to pre-2018 levels. The strike, which began on April 16, 2025, severely disrupted academic activities, leaving students and staff grappling with the fallout.

Vice-Chancellor Paul Mapfumo has publicly criticized the striking lecturers, labeling them “retrogressive.” Attempts to reach him for further comment were unsuccessful.

Students have also expressed frustration over the stalemate. Accounting student Munashe Chichetu voiced his concerns: “The lecturers are not doing enough; they just load us with assignments. They should be brave enough to stay away from lecture rooms instead of pretending. It’s us students who suffer.”

The University of Zimbabwe, once one of Africa’s leading institutions during the 1980s, was historically heavily subsidized by the government, with students receiving grants to support their education. Today, however, financial challenges continue to strain the institution’s ability to maintain its former standards.

As the dispute drags on, the future of UZ’s academic environment remains uncertain, with both staff and students caught in the crossfire.

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